Editorial: On gerrymandering and marijuana

Proposal 2 on November’s ballot, known as “Voters Not Politicians,” would amend the Michigan Constitution to create a 13-member commission to draw the lines for legislative districts in Michigan. Proposal 1 would legalize recreational marijuana in Michigan.

A ballot proposal that would create an independent commission to oversee political redistricting every 10 years is the right idea at the right time.

Proposal 2 on November's ballot, known as "Voters Not Politicians," would amend the Michigan Constitution to create a 13-member commission to draw the lines for legislative districts in Michigan. Now, districts are drawn by whichever party controls the state Legislature.

There's a good business case to be made for the proposal. Its aim is to create districts that are more competitive, that don't provide an advantage to one party — as many of Michigan's gerrymandered districts now do.

Those "safe" districts provide little incentive for lawmakers to be responsive to the concerns raised again and again by business leaders — improving roads and other infrastructure, and fixing an educational system that has fallen further and further behind and exacerbated a talent crunch.

Part of the reason for that lack of responsiveness is term limits, which curtail relationships that would normally be built over years. The Voters Not Politicians proposal would restore some of those incentives.

Some of the tactics of this proposal's backers have left a bad taste in the business community's mouth. There was no excuse for the aggressive targeting of Michigan Chamber of Commerce board members when its foundation was fighting to keep the proposal off the ballot.

But those tactics should not take away from the potential benefits of a more engaged electorate and more responsive politicians.

Pot points

Proposal 1 would legalize recreational marijuana in Michigan. Michigan would join nine states in this.

There are some good non-business arguments for the proposal, but some points to consider as you weigh your vote:

It's hard to see anything good that would come of the proposal for employers. Many in industries where safety is a primary concern have a hard enough time finding workers who can pass a drug test.

Promises of a massive tax revenue benefit are overblown. Supporters of the proposal estimate the state could net $130 million a year in tax revenue. That amounts to about 0.2 percent of total state spending. The roughly $30 million that would put in the state's general fund would pave only 30 lane-miles of road, for example. The Michigan proposal's taxes fall short of those in several other states that have legalized.

Cannabis is a growing business that could offer entrepreneurial opportunities. But it's likely to come to be dominated, like alcohol and tobacco, by a few big, out-of-state players.